Flashbacks?

Question:

I have a series of memories of things I've messed up, when I've said or done the wrong thing, missed opportunities, embarrassing moments etc. These thoughts come into my head all day every day. I might have five or six intrusive thoughts while in the shower in the morning, several while walking to work, then more during meetings etc. They are powerful and make me feel very bad indeed. Sometimes I react physically, like with my expression, or saying something out loud. In the past I have literally hit myself over the particularly bad ones. Is this a real mental health problem, or does everyone do this to an extent? Is there a way to stop it?

Answers:
Everyone does that to some extent, but if you do it all the time, see a therapist or counselor. You are setting yourself up to slide down into serious depression. Better to deal with it now than wait until it's worse. Besides, you do not need to be mentally ill to get something beneficial from working with a professional therapist. There also is absolutely no shame in desiring to better understand and improve yourself. The results you desire will happen a lot quicker than trying to figure it all out and change yourself all by yourself.

Btw, it sounds more like you are holding yourself responsible for how others feel (a control issue) and continually criticizing yourself (a self-worth issue). Flashbacks actually are a bit different. Typically they are due to the powerlessness of severe trauma caused by a catastrophic event or what someone did to you, which may or may not have also necessitated you doing something extraordinary in order to survive. Basically, your brain does not fully process the event; it gets stuck in your mid-brain and returns like a video clip in a way that has nothing to do with intellectual thinking.

every night before sleeping keep ur hand on ur heart and think of the most wonderful moment of ur life
all ur serious memories r gone

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Flashbacks?

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